When I lived in Chicago, Mary Ann Smith was my alderman. Too bad I'm no longer a constituent, because she'd be hearing from me.
Ald. Smith has been "working with animal rights groups," according to the Chicago Sun-Times, in developing an ordinance that would require any elephant brought into the city (that means by circuses) to give each elephant 10 acres of wandering space (half indoor, half outdoor). Smith tells the Sun-Times meeting this requirement would be "difficult." Many circuses have 10 or twenty elephants.
Chicago, obviously, does not have much in the way of open space. Cities with 3 million people tend to be that way.
Smith apparently doesn't have the guts to propose a bill banning elephants in the city. Doesn't matter. If the bill passes, Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus will never put the Greatest Show on Earth on in Chicago again; they'll put the show on in the suburbs.
(Personal note: My eight year-old daughter and I got to see the circus last November and we had a great time. David, the star clown, called me onto the stage to participate in a comedy routine. The circus is great.)
PETA, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals hates circuses with animals, and of course is very supportive of Smith's backhanded way to keep elephants out of Chicago. PETA wants everyone to be a non-leather wearing vegetarian, too. And a whole bunch of other things. If you have to know, visit PETA's web site.
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